Women Scientists Programs

Women Scientists Scheme

Women are an important section of the workforce, more particularly in the science & technology (S&T) domain. However, a large number of well-qualified women get left out of the S&T activities due to various circumstances which are usually typical to the gender. The challenges faced by them are several but most often the "break in career" arises out of motherhood and family responsibilities. To address such issues, Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched "Women Scientists Scheme (WOS)" during 2002-03. This initiative primarily aimed at providing opportunities to women scientists and technologists between the age group of 27-57 years who had a break in their career but desired to return to mainstream.

Through this endeavour of the Department, concerted efforts have been made to give women a strong foothold into the scientific profession, help them re-enter into the mainstream and provide a launch pad for further forays into the field of science and technology.

Category of Fellowships:

Under this scheme, women scientists are being encouraged to pursue research in frontier areas of science and engineering, on problems of societal relevance and to take up S&T-based internship followed by self-employment. Following three categories of fellowships, with research grants, are available for Indian citizen:

The scheme is meant to encourage women in S&T domain, preferably those having a break in career and not having regular employment, to explore possibility of re-entry into the profession.

Qualifications:

Minimum Post Graduate degree, equivalent to M.Sc. in Basic or Applied Sciences or B.Tech. or MBBS or other equivalent professional qualifications

M.Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent qualifications

Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences

Age:

The minimum age to apply in WOS-A & WOS-B is 27 years and maximum age is 57 years. Age relaxation of 5 years would be given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC and physically challenged category. Attested copies of supporting documents in this regard must be enclosed.

Support:

This scheme will provide a research grant for a well-defined project proposal (under WOS-A and WOS-B) for a period of maximum three years. This grant will cover the fellowship of the applicant and cost of small equipments, contingencies, travel, consumables, etc. Institutional overhead charges will be extra.

Programme

Qualifications

Amount of Fellowship per month (Consolidated)

Total Cost of the Project not exceeding

Women Scientist Scheme-A (WOS-A)

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B)

Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences or equivalent degree

Rs.55,000/-

Rs.30 lakh

M.Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent degree

Rs.40,000/-

Rs.25 lakh

M.Sc in Basic or Applied Sciences/B.Tech/MBBS or equivalent degree

Rs.30,000/-

Rs.20 lakh

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C)

Ph.D. in Basic or Applied Sciences or equivalent degree

Rs.30,000/-

………

M.Phil/M.Tech/M.Pharm/M.VSc or equivalent degree

Rs.25,000/-

………

M.Sc in Basic or Applied Sciences/B.Tech/MBBS or equivalent degree

Rs.20,000/-

………

Women Scientist Scheme-A (WOS-A):

Women Scientists Scheme-A (WOS-A) provides platform to women scientists and technologists for pursuing research in basic or applied sciences in frontier areas of science and engineering. The scheme plays pivotal role in gender mainstreaming as it not only prevents brain drain from S&T system but also train and retain women in the system. The scheme initially offers opportunity to work as bench-level scientists and ultimately open new avenues for permanent position in Science & Technology.

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B):

Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B) focuses on projects related to Science & Technology (S&T) interventions for societal benefit. Such project proposal should address a well-identified societal challenge and deliver possible solution(s) by way of development of viable technology/technique and/or lab-to-land technology transfer, its adaptation and scaling up. Women scientists who wish to apply under this scheme are required to develop their own project/proposals for scientific and technological solutions to address issues preferably at enhance quality-of-life the grassroots level. The proposal must clearly bring out the societal benefit to be accrued through well conceived plan for development of technology/technique and/or adaptation/ customization. The candidate should have adequate S&T skills and be adept at techniques to deliver the proposed outcome. Projects which have the potential for sustainable income generation, lead to appreciable reduction in drudgery and enhancement of quality-of-life besides capacity building of women at the grassroots level are encouraged.

Procedure for Applying:

DST has started e-PMS (onlinedst.gov.in) for online submission of research proposal. Principal Investigator has to register at this portal and then upload the proposal in the given format. WOS-B Proposal Format is available on e-PMS under KIRAN Division and at DST website. Two (2) hardcopies of submitted research proposal should also be sent to Dr Namita Gupta, Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110016, by Speed Post. The envelope should be superscribed with ‘Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B)’.

Last date of Submission of Proposals under WOS-B Call (2018-19) extended to 16 November 2018

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C):

Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) is being implemented by the Patent Facilitating Centre of Technology Information Forecasting & Assessment Council (TIFAC). The scheme aims to train women having qualifications in science/engineering/medicine or allied areas in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and their management for a period of one year in order to develop a pool of women scientists geared to creating, protecting and managing intellectual property in India. Hands-on training on different aspects of IPRs (e.g. patent search, know-how, drafting, filing, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright etc.) is major part of WOS-C curriculum in association with various Knowledge Partners (i.e. Law firms, Knowledge Processing Organizations (KPOs), Companies, Government agencies, and so on).

In the year 2014, Department has restructured all the women specific programmes under one umbrella known as “KIRAN” (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing). KIRAN is addressing various issues related with women scientists (e.g. unemployment, relocation etc.) and aimed to provide opportunities in research (WOS-A), technology development/demonstration (WOS-B), and self-employment (WOS-C) etc. KIRAN is also actively involved in taking proactive measures, under the name CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities) to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in women universities in order to attract, train and retain promising girls students in S&T domain.

In continuation of this, another landmark programme, named as, “Mobility Scheme” has been just launched under KIRAN which will address relocation issue of women scientists working in regular position in Government Organizations. The Mobility Scheme is aimed to provide an opportunity to women scientists who are facing difficulties in their present job due to relocation (marriage, transfer of husband to any other location within the country, attending ailing parents, and accompanying children studying in different city) and will act as filler while searching other career option at new place. The initiative intends to provide a harmonious environment during early phases of women scientists where they would like to stay active in research in addition to attending and fulfilling other responsibilities in the domestic front. It offers a contractual research award to women scientists and enables them for independent research.

Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM

To provide opportunities to Indian Women Scientists, Engineers & Technologists to undertake international collaborative research in premier institutions in U.S.A, to enhance their research capacities and capabilities, Department announces “Indo-U.S. Fellowship for Women in STEMM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) jointly with Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF).